"As there was a rivalry among the sportsmen on account of a money prize offered for the one who secured the largest amount of gay-colored feathers, I soon got my little camp in shape, and settled down to business. So numerous were the birds, and so proficient did I become in the use of my fowling-piece, that by the time the two weeks had passed my store of treasure almost filled the large sack that I had brought from the schooner.
"It was the night of the fifteenth day that I had been on the island. Ever since early morning the atmosphere had been so stifling that I had lain under the trees almost suffocated. The earth itself seemed to burn. It was not only the fearful heat and the absence of anything like a breeze, but there was a sulphurous smell in the air, and the water from the spring had tasted so hot and bitter when I tried to drink it that I was not able to swallow it.
"At length I fell asleep, but only to be awakened by a fearful rumbling, followed a moment later by a crash that threatened to rend the island in twain. At the instant I took it to be thunder, but the starry splendor of the sky told me to look elsewhere for the cause. Almost before I could reason, the island commenced to rock and heave as though it was a ship at sea, and such an overpowering smell of sulphur was sent forth that I fell to the ground overcome with terror and faintness. During the remainder of the night the rumbling went on at times deep down in the heart of the island, but there were no more of the awful shocks and crashes that had stunned me in the beginning. Slowly the daylight came, bringing with it a gentle breeze that cleared away the sickening atmosphere, and then as the day broadened I made out, to my joy, the _Queen_ standing toward the land.
"An hour later, when the schooner's boat touched the beach, I threw my bag of feathers into her and followed them. Then on our way to the vessel, which was hove to about a mile off-shore, I gave my companions an account of my last night on the island. When we reached the _Queen_ I rehearsed my story to the Captain. He was deeply interested in its details, and was in the middle of a scriptural quotation when he stopped suddenly, gave a cry, and pointed to the island.